Bomb

In baseball slang, a "bomb" is a towering home run that flies deep into the stands or clears the fence with impressive power. The term draws from the visual and emotional impact of a bomb dropping—fast, loud, and game-changing.

Fans, commentators, and players often use "bomb" to describe a no-doubt homer, especially one that sails over the outfield wall with serious height or distance. While it's used in all levels of the game, it's especially common in MLB, where powerful hitters like Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani frequently "launch bombs" or "drop bombs" that electrify the crowd. The term has been part of the baseball lingo since at least the late 20th century and remains popular in broadcasts, highlight reels, and social media clips.

In surfing slang, a "bomb" is a particularly massive, powerful wave that stands out from the rest in a set. Bombs are the kind of waves that make even seasoned surfers take notice; they break with serious force and can offer an exhilarating, high-stakes ride or a brutal wipeout.

The term emerged organically in surf culture in the 1980s to describe the rare monster waves that roll in unexpectedly. Experienced surfers and commentators widely use the term when calling out the biggest wave in a set or session, whether it be Hawaii's North Shore, California's Mavericks, or Nazaré's Gigantes.

For example, you might hear someone say, "That was a total bomb!" after catching or witnessing a wave that dwarfs the rest. The term is also popular in surf competitions and video edits, often used to hype a wave that tests a surfer's skill and nerve.

Bomb is when you fail badly, especially when the pressure is on. For example, if you bomb a test, an interview, or a performance, it means things went south quickly. People typically use "bomb" as a verb (e.g., "I totally bombed that math quiz"), but they may also use it as a noun (e.g., "That presentation was a total bomb").

The term "bomb" in this context likely emerged in mid-20th-century American slang, originally tied to theater and film, where a bad show was said to "bomb" if audiences hated it. From there, it spread into broader everyday use and became popular across schools, workplaces, and social media. It's still commonly used today to describe moments when someone flops or falls short—whether they're on stage, in class, or just trying something new that doesn't go well.